IRB Medical Conference Puts Players First

Delegates at the inaugural IRB Medical Conference have identified key medical focus areas in a strategy for global player welfare best-practice and to tackle injury trends within rugby union.

Under the central theme of "Putting Players First", the two-day Conference at Twickenham Stadium provided leading physicians and administrators with a forum to consider the latest IRB and Member Union research and medical and sports science developments.

Strategies in anti-doping, concussion diagnosis and assessment, the physicality of the game, catastrophic injuries, advances in women's rugby, as well as player burnout were among the key discussion topics.

Key Outcomes -

Putting Players First: Player welfare is paramount and all stakeholders have a collective responsibility to ensure the best possible education for playing, coaching, officiating and administering the game.

Concussion: The Zurich Consensus Statement in Concussion in Sport should underpin all decisions relating to Regulation 10 and provide the basis of any recommendations for regulation alteration.

It is recommended in the event of a player being removed from the field of play with a diagnosis of concussion they should not be allowed to return to the field of play that day.

Physicality of the Game: IRB to prioritise law enforcement at the tackle and ruck and to establish a working party to facilitate global study on physicality of the game and influence best possible education for players, coaches and match officials.

The Conference also considered the latest injury data and statistical analysis, while discussion also covered the current injury situation at the elite level of rugby in England.

Expert speakers included Dr. James Robson (SRU), Dr. Colin Fuller (University of Nottingham), Dr. Simon Kemp (RFU), Colin Boreham (Director, Institute for Sport and Health, University College Dublin) and Professor William McKenna (Director, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University College London).

International Rugby Board Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "The welfare of players at all levels of the game is of paramount importance.

"The Medical Conference provided a unique forum for Union medical officers and invited independent experts to discuss a range of key issues, exchange views and form recommendations to help the IRB further develop its Medical Strategic Plan to ensure the continued dissemination of best possible practice for playing, coaching and officiating the game.

"The quality of the discussions over the two days, and the positive response to the information presented by medical experts, clearly highlights the collective determination to ensure that player welfare is the primary concern for administrators throughout the game.

"I would like to thank all participants for their open and informative input."

He added: "Recommendations were made across a spectrum of medical and player welfare areas for the IRB to focus on through its Medical Strategic Plan.

"These include comparable global injury data collation, a cross-Game physicality study and targeted educational programmes. The IRB will now review all outcomes from the Conference and consider a set of key recommendations to propose to the Executive Committee."

For the delegates, the Conference represented a structured opportunity to discuss areas of mutual interest and it provided Union medical officers with an invaluable information sharing platform.

Dr. Simon Kemp, RFU Head of Sports Medicine, said: "From the perspective of the individual Unions, we all welcomed the opportunity to share research and processes with other Unions and learn from each other's experiences.

"All of the delegates shared their experiences openly and honestly and the IRB should be congratulated on the way they facilitated the process.

"The next stage - how the recommendations start to shape IRB policy - is the key step but I am optimistic that the meeting will have an impact on a range of areas."

Dr. James Robson added: "The IRB Medical Conference provided an excellent first step in a new integrated approach for Unions to share information and discuss global medical issues and recommend strategies.

"The outcomes will be beneficial in the drive to maximise player welfare best practice through the IRB's Medical Strategic Plan."

To view the key outcomes from the IRB Medical Conference, please click here.

Featuring in a new centre partnership with Bundee Aki, the fit-again Garry Ringrose impressed on his return against Scotland. Here is his post-match reaction following Ireland's 28-8 bonus point win at the Aviva Stadium.

Ireland skills and kicking coach Richie Murphy spoke to Irish Rugby TV about Dan Biggar, Liam Williams and Leigh Halfpenny and the attacking threats they will pose for Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 2.15pm).

Newly-appointed Ireland Women's captain Ciara Griffin talks about attending her first Women's Six Nations launch and her pride at leading her country into the tournament, which kicks off with a trip to Toulouse next week to face France.

Speaking to Irish Rugby TV in Dubai, IRFU referee Joy Neville said she was 'over the moon and very proud' to receive the World Rugby Referee of the Year award last Sunday. She is in Dubai to referee in the opening round of the World Sevens Series this week, and is also looking forward to her Challenge Cup refereeing debut on Friday, December 15 (Bordeaux-Bègles v Enisei-STM).

First half tries from Darren Sweetnam, Jack Conan and Dave Kearney laid the foundations for Ireland's 23-20 win over Fiji in the second game of the GUINNESS Series at the Aviva Stadium. Check out the match highlights on Irish Rugby TV.

Tries from Andrew Conway, Rhys Ruddock, Rob Herring and Jacob Stockdale, and a man-of-the-match performance from Jonathan Sexton, gave Ireland a record 38-3 win against South Africa in the opening game of the GUINNESS Series. Check out the match highlights.

Who we are is how we play. Fancy seeing more of how we all belong to the #TeamOfUs? Check out the extended version of the new ad from Vodafone Ireland featuring Conor Murray, Rory Best, Tadhg Furlong and Tiernan O'Halloran.

They may have left the island but they've never really left Ireland behind. The Irish diaspora of 70 million people around the world are ready to 'arise and go now', ready for the world, ready for a tournament like no other. Bob Geldof reads from 'The Lake Isle At Innisfree' by WB Yeats.

The ChildFund 'Pass It Back' Belfast Cup brought together girls from Vietnam, the Philippines and Laos with players from across Ulster to celebrate the power of sport and highlight how rugby is developing in Asia.

Monday was community legacy day at Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 as the IRFU's 'Spirit of Rugby' programme brought together some local disability rugby players from DLSP Eagles, Seapoint Dragons and Westmanstown Wasps, and a number of WRWC players and coaches from the competing nations, for a fun-filled coaching/training session and Tag rugby games.

Monday was a momentous day for the Ireland Women's camp as the 28-strong squad was revealed for the Women's Rugby World Cup on home soil. Head coach Tom Tierney and captain Niamh Briggs spoke to the press at the announcement in UCD.

IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne spoke to Irish Rugby TV about the Union's 2016/17 Annual Report, which includes increased investment in Women's rugby and addresses the challenges of funding for the game in Ireland.